Mediterranean - Week 4 Lecture 2 - The Byzantines, The Arab Christians - Student Version

7/31/2019 Mediterranean - Week 4 Lecture 2 - The Byzantines, The Arab Christians - Student Version

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The Byzantine Empire and

the Christians in the Near East,

7th 8th centuries


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Evolution of Styles - Classical

Egypt, 2nd century CE

Rome, 1st century BCE


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Evolution of StylesLate Antique

Saint Apollo the New, Ravenna, 504


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San Vitale Basilica. Ravenna, Italy. 546-548.


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Constantinople, 6th or 7th century


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BeatussCommentary on the Apocalypse

Kingdom of Leon, ca 800. Copy from 1046.

Revelations Chapter 17, Verses 4-5:

And the woman was arrayed in purple

and scarlet, and decked with gold and

precious stone and pearls, having in her

hand a golden cup full of abominations,even the unclean things of her

fornication, and upon her forehead a

name written: Mystery, Babylon the

Great, the mother of the harlots and of

the abominations of earth.


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Saint Catherines Monastery

Sinai Peninsula


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Saint Catherines Monastery

Sinai Peninsula


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Saint Catherines Monastery, Sinai, 6th

century


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Saint Catherines Monastery, Sinai, 6th century


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Justinians Conquests (527-554)


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Byzantine Empires Territorial Struggles

Late 500s: The Lombards conquer parts of Italy

Late 500s: Creation of the theme system

Late 500s: The Slavs threaten the north

Provinces organized as militarily

districts

Civilians are the also the army

Governors are also military commanders


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Byzantine Empires Territorial Struggles

Ca 640: Lose Syria and Palestine to Muslim forces

Late 600s: The Bulgars establish dominance at the

northern border

Late 600s: Lose North Africa to Muslim forces

Late 600s and early 700s:

Muslim forces repelled at

Constantinoples walls


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Mediterranean, ca 600 CE


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Mediterranean, ca 800


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Byzantine Empire, ca 800


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Byzantine Empire: 7th and 8th centuries

Greek becomes the dominant language

Constantinople thrives

Clergy and civil servants come from same background

and go to same schools


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Justinian II (692-695)


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Icons

Very popular by the late 6

th

century


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Iconoclasm

726: Emperor Leo III outlaws veneration of icons

Pope in Rome refuses imperial order to destroy icons

Mid 700s: Active persecution of icon veneration in

the eastern Byzantine empire

730: Emperor Leo III outlaws public display of icons


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Iconoclasm

John of Damascus (d. 753):

Icons should be venerated for what they

represent, not worshipped themselves


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Mar Saba Monastery, Palestine


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Stylite Saint, Syria, 5th or 6th century


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Alexandria, Eypgt, 7th 8th century


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Red Monastery, Egypt, 7th century

I P l ti 8th t


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Icon, Palestine, 8th century

Ch h f th Vi i S i id 8th t


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Church of the Virgin, Syria, mid-8th century

P l 17 d 18 S i C h i M


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Psalms 17 and 18, Saint Catherines Monastery

Sinai Peninsula, 9th century

G l f J h S i C h i M


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Gospel of John, Saint Catherines Monastery

Sinai Peninsula, mid-9th century

Mediterranean - Week 4 Lecture 2 - The Byzantines, The Arab Christians - Student Version

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Transcript of Mediterranean - Week 4 Lecture 2 - The Byzantines, The Arab Christians - Student Version